Ore-concentrator.



No. 769,431. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. I. A. GAMMBTT & F. E. SHEPARD. OREOONCBNTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZQ, 1898. N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

r T v w 1 l'[ J 111 J g W/T/VESSES mm INVENTORY w N J @lif/L..- L44...

A TTORNE Y No. 769,431. PATENTED SEPT. a, 1904. I. A. GAMMETT & F. E.SHEPARD.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1898.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

/ N VE N T095 9 14. Q ("M M ATTOF/VEY No. 769,431. PATENTED SEPT. 6,1904. I. A. GAMMETT & P. E. SHEPARD.

ORE OONGENTRATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 29, 1898.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL,

lNVE/VTO/ZY Mal- TTOHNE) W TNESSES No. 769,431. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.I. A. GAMMETT & F. E. SHEPARD.

ORE CONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1998.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- N0 MODEL,

A TTOHNE) Patented September 6, 1904;

UNITED STATES PATENT tricE.

IRA A. OAMMETI. AND FRANK E. SHEPARD, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIUNOR TOARTHUR R. \YlLFLEY, OF DENY ER, COLORADO.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,431, dated.September 6, 1904.

Applieatioirfiled March 29, 1898.

Be it known that we, IRA A. OAMMETT and FnAXk E.SmsramnofDenvergColorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements Relating to Ore-Concentrators, of which the following is adescription, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and perfectthe operation of ore-concentrators.

The nature of the invention is such that it will be best understood byan inspection of the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment ofit. though it must not be understood that it is limited to the minordetails of construction there shown.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the table and some of its attachments. Fig. 2is a side elevation of the concentrator, Fig. 3 is an end view of thetable and some of its attachments, the frame being shown partly incross-section. Fig. 1 is a sectional detail on the plane a r of Figs. 1and Fig. 5 is a cross-section at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is acrosssection showing a portion of the table transversely inclined. Fig.7 is a cross-section of a water-supply pipe. Fig. 8 is a central axialsection of the conveying apparatus or pump used for the middlings. Fig.9 is a central section transverse to the axis, showing the rotatingportion of the same. Fig. 10 is a plan view, and Fig. 11 is a sideelevation, of the end-shake mechanism. Fig. 12 is an end elevation,partly in cross-section, on the plane X X of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is avertical section on the plane 13 13, Figs. .10 and 11.

'lhroughout the drawings like numerals of reference indicate like parts.

The table of the concentrator is mounted to reciprocate longitudinallyunder the action of the end-shake motion, which will be later described.Preferably ball-bearings 20 are provided to permit the endwise movementof the table upon its frame 21. The frame 21 is hinged or mounted so asto tilt upon a longitudinal axis 22 and is adjustable thereon by meansof any one of the three handwheels 23, which are cooperatively connectedSerial No. 675,637. (No model.)

by means of the sprocket-wheels 21,.so that they may all three besimultaneously actuated. The lower frame or bed-frame 30, upon which theframe 21 is adjustable, as just described, is supported upon hingesorfulcrums 31, which form a transverse axis, upon which the apparatusmay be inclined by means of the hand-wheel 32. By these means the tablemay be inclined transversely and longitudinally to the desired degree,and by a combination of both adjustments the table may be inclinedobliquely, so as to raise one of its corners. The table itself isconstructed of fluted wookwork, the flutings and the grains of the woodlying at right angles to each other in the two layers. (Clearly seen inFigs. 4, 5, and 6.) By this construction the table may be made verylight and at the same time will retain its shape. The riftles a0 are inthe form of strips set on edge upon the transverse members 41 of thetable. Between these riffles &0 are set the longitudinally-grooved uppermembers of the table *2, which form the surface or bed of the table andseparate the riifies. The left-hand end of the table, as seen in Fig. 1,will be referred to as the head end and the other as the tail end fordistinction. The riiiics run from the head end toward the tail end,gradually diminishing in height until they converge into or sink belowthe surface formed by the members +t2, which separate the riiiles fromeach other. The rii'iles at the feed side of the table are comparativelyshort and are successively of greater length as the gangue side ortailings side of the table is approached. This results in producing atriangular area toward the tail end and feed side of the table, in whichthe riflies do not project above the surface of the table, as clearlyseen in Fig. 1. The surface of this portion 44% of the table is given aroughened finish similar to a piece of coarse sandpaper or grooved fromthe end of the ritiles toward the end of the table. This result ispreferably accomplished by coating it with a paint not susceptible tothe action of water and either roughening the surface of the paint orintroducing sand or other small particles into the paint before it isapplied. The grooves are made by planing the riflie-strip below thelevelof the table. While the strips 40, which form the riffles, alsoform part of the flat portion 44 of the table, the separating-lines donot appear in the space 44. These lines are omitted for the purpose ofdistinguishing between the part of the table where the riffies areraised and the part in which they sink into or below the common level ofthe separating members 42. It must be understood that all the rifflestaper down from the head end to the-boundary of the space 44, theshorter riffies tapering more rapidly than those that are on thetailings side of the table, but all assuming the common level of thesurface 44 or below same along the oblique line which bounds it. WVerethe riflies simply tapered down from the head end to where theydisappear at this oblique line and nailed upon a flat surface they wouldtend to curl up at the thin ends under the action of water; but by beinginserted on edge between the separating members 42 and resting upon thetransverse timbers 4.1 the whole table is made firm and secure and thebending or curling of the rifiies prevented.

The pulp or material to be treated is fed into the feed-box 50, placedabove the rifiiesurface at the feed side of the table near the head end.The end-shake movement, which is given to the table and which will bepresently described, carries the material along the rifflesurface towardthe tail end of the table and onto the roughened or grooved surface 44,where it is acted upon by clean water delivered from the water-supplypipe 51. The gangue or tailings wash across the successive riffles fromthe vicinity of the feed-box 50 and finally pass at the tailings side ofthe table into the tailingsbox 57. The concentrates or valuable mineralportions of the pulp are carried along between the riffies toward thetail end of the table until they reach the surface 44, and after beingalmost entirely freed from gangue and foreign materials by thewash-water upon the surface 44 they pass into the concentrates-box 52.As the pulp or wet material starts from the corner of the table beneaththe feed-box 50 the water which it contains spreads out over the surfaceof the table as it flows toward the tailings side. As the result ofthis, particles of metal or valuable mineral which are washed over thefirst one or two rifiies will be caught by the succeeding riffles andeventually carried toward the tail end of the table and onto theroughened or grooved surface 44 to be acted upon by the wash-water fromthe pipe 51.

The middlings, which is that portion of the material which should bedelivered near the corner of the table diagonally opposite to thefeed-box, are re-treated for the recovery of any valuable mineral whichmay remain in them. For the purpose of dividing the tailings intomiddlings and tailings which are not to be re-treated the movablepartition 53, sep arating the middlings-conveyer 54 from thetailings-box 57, is provided. By moving this toward or from the tail endof the table more or less of the tailings will pass as middlings intothe inclined conveyer 54 and wash down toward the centripetal conveyer60, (which will be presently described,) and thereby clelivered throughthe pipe 7 O to the middlings feed-box 71. This middlings feed-boxdelivers the middlings back onto the table at the feed side, but at apoint considerably nearer the tail end than the feed-box 50. Byadjusting the point at which the middlings feed-box 71 delivers themiddlings back onto the table almost perfect separation of the middlingscan be obtained. To permit this adjustment of the box 71, it may bemounted on adjustable sup.- ports 7 2, which may travel along the railor stationary support 7 3, secured on the side ofthe bed-frame 30. Thewash-water is delivered from the pipe 51 along the feed side of thesurface 44. The tail end of the pipe 51 is supported by a hand-screw 75and bracket 76. By turning the hand-screw 75 the end of the pipe may beraised or lowered to aifect the flow of water from it. The pipe 51 isslotted or perforated at intervals, preferably for its whole length, asindicated at 78 in Fig. 7, preferably on the upper side of the pipe.Beneath is provided the drip-flange 77. The water flowing through theopening 78 runs around the pipe 51 and is spread by the drip-flange -7 7into a continuous sheet as it flows onto the table. By turning the screw75 the relative quantity of water delivered at the respective ends ofthe pipe 51 may be regulated at will.

The centripetal ,pump or conveyer may be driven by a belt-wheel 61 andshaft 62, upon which is mounted the rotary parts of the conveyer. Therotary part consists of two side plates 63, with the two spiral coils64, forming spiral channels between them, extending from the exterior tothe central space 65. The central space is provided with a projectingflange, as shown, which fits within the stationary hub 66 of the casing.To the hub 66 is connected the middlings tail-pipe already described.The plate 63 and spirals 64 are partly submerged in the middlingsconveyer-box 54, so that the rotation of the spirals causes it to gatherup a portion of the pulp and water, depending in amount upon the depthto which the spirals are submerged. The spirals are turned in thedirection shown by the outermost arrow in Fig. 9, and as the result thepulp and water taken up at each rotation, combined with the air which istaken in between the successive quantities of water and pulp, are forcedby gravity in the direction indicated by the arrow, reaching the centralspace 65 and flowing out through the pipe 70 into the middlings feed-box71.

By inspection of Fig. 9 it will be seen that there are two spirals,forming two spiral passages, so that two quantities of pulp or water aretaken up at each rotation of the apparatus. This tends to balance theaction of the pump and increase its capacity for a given diameter andspeed, while decreasing the number of pulsations for a given speed. Ifany leakage takes place between the hub 66 and the rotating part of thepump or conveyor, it will merely tlow back into the casing and be takenup again by the spirals. By this simple arrangement complications of astufiingthe length or throw of the movement is conbox are avoided. Thiscentripetal conveyer or pump will lift pulp, sand. &c., without choking,and it requires a verysmall amount i for instance, as the cone-pulleys100. Flg. 10.

of power in its operation.

The endshake apparatus remains to be described. its principal parts arethe crankshaft 80. pitman 81, oscillating frame 82, connecting-link 83,and reciprocating rod 81,

mounted in the framework or housing The oscillating frame 82 turns uponthe trunnions 90 in suitable bearings in the housing It is oscillatedupon these trunnions by means of the pitman 81, which is pivoted at oneend to the box 91, adjustable along the screw 92 by the hand-wheel 93.The object of this adjustment is to produce any desired difference inthe relative speeds of the direct and return movements of thereciprocating rod 81. so as to give an end-shake movement to the tablethat will tend to cause a progressive travel of the particles along thesurface of the table in distinction to a mere evenly-balanced orharmonic movement, which would merely agitate without giving progressivemovement to the particlesthat is to say, when the box 91 is adjusted soas to be beneath the shaft the direct and return movements of the tableare of substantially similar character; but when the box 91 is screwedtoward the hand-wheel 93 and displaced from directly beneath the shaft80, then a quickening of the return movement and a delaying of thedirect movement is produced. Incidentally the adjustment of the box 91by means of the hand-wheel 93 causes a variation in the length of thestroke, as well as a difference in its quality; but this is not theobject of the adjustment, and the length of stroke is changed to anydesired extent by independent means operated by the handwheel 93:5.These means are as follows: The reciprocating rod is spring-pressedtoward the link 83 and is, indeed, kept in contact with the link solelyby the compression of the spring. The link 83 is a loose link havingrecesses at each end, one of which recesses receives the trunnion orbearing 96 of the rod 8%, while the other end of the link, forked asshown in Fig. 10, bears against trunnions UT, carried by avertically-adjustable box 98, which is screw-threaded on the screw 99.By turning the hand-wheel 95, and thereby the screw 9%), the box 98 isadjusted so as to bring the trunnions 97 toward and from the axial lineof the trunnions 90. It is clear that when the trunnions 97 are coaxialwith the trunnions 90110 movement will be given to the link 83 orreciprocating rod 8% when the oscillating frame 82 is rocked. On theother hand, when the box 98 is screwed downward more and more motion isgiven to the link 83 and rod 81. It therefore follows. that by adjustingthe hand-wheel 9?) the quality of the end-shake or quick-return movementis modified, while by adjusting the hand-wheel 95 trolled. V vided withmeans for varying its speed such,

By this means the number of reciprocations and also the speed ofreciprocations is variable at will. The reciprocating rod 8% isconnected with the table by means of :1 lug, plate, or loop 101 througha slot in which the rod 81 extends. This slot or some other adjustableconnection is necessary to permit the inclination and adjustment of thetable without affecting its connection with the rod 8f. By means of thenuts 111) the compression of the spring 111 can be varied at will topress the rod 81, link 83, and trunnions 97 into lirm engagement witheach other. Onead vantage of having these connections spring-pressedtogether is that no lost motion will be produced by working of theparts, as the spring takes up the wear.

In describing so much in detail the form of the invention which has beenselected for illustration'it must not be understood that there is anyimplication that the invention is restricted to any such minor details.On the contrary,

\Ye claim, and desire to secure by these Letters Patent, the followingfeatures, without meaning to imply in any claim features not mentionedor necessarily understood therein:

1. In combination in a concentrator-table, the rittles, and theseparating-pieces 12 forming the table-surface and between which therittles are placed, the said rittles lying between and projecting abovethe separating-pieces for a. portion only of their length and merginginto and continuing between the said separating-pieces toward the tailend, substantially as set forth.

2. In the end-shake mechanism for a concentrator, the pivotally-mountedoscillating frame or member thereof provided with two adjusting-sorews,each having a serew-tlueaded box thereon, a crank and pitman actuatingone of the said boxes, and a link actuated by the other of said boxesand connected to the parts to be shaken, the said screws acting toadjust the said boxes toward and from the center of motion of the saidframe or member to vary the operation of the mechanism, substantially asset forth.

3. .ln a concentrating apparatus the combination of a lower frame hingedat one end and adjustable vertically at the other, an end-shakeMoreover, the crank-shaft 80 is pro mechanism mounted on the said lowerframe,

an intermediate frame hinged at one side to the said lower frame andadjustable vertically at its other side, and a table-top mounted toreciprocate longitudinally on the said intermediate frame and connectedto be actuated by the said end-shake mechanism upon the said lowerframe, substantially as set forth.

4. The table-top for reciprocating concentrating-tables having a rifledupper portion and having an under portion of grooved or channeledtimbers extending transversely to the rifles, whereby a light strongtable is produced having a minimum of inertia in proportion to itsstrength, and stiffened longitudinally by the said rifles andtransversely by the said grooved or channeled timbers, substantially forthe purposes set forth.

5. In a concentrator, a table, the surface of which has in part raisedribs or rifles and in part a roughened and grooved formation,substantially as set forth.

6. A concentrator-table, the surface of which toward the head end hasraised ribs or IRA A. (JAMMETT. FRANK E. SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

E. RANsoMn, M. C. RUSSELL.

